seniors Articles

One of the most noticeable effects of aging is a decline in the body’s natural ability to stand upright and balanced. There are as many reasons for poor balance as there are medical conditions, from heart arrhythmia and vestibular problems (parts of the inner ear and brain that control balance), to low blood pressure and dehydration. Reactions to drugs can also cause dizziness that affects balance. All these factors explain why falls are the leading cause of death in people over 75. “By…

How can seniors with health conditions safely pursue exercise? “The best way is through a professional who takes into consideration all their co-morbid conditions,” says Trish Stackhouse, PT, a physical therapist at Indiana University Health Rehabilitation Services. “The medication history alone has an impact on what type of exercise endurance they have.” To identify exercise parameters based on individual conditions, Stackhouse says it’s appropriate to ask a doctor…

It’s no secret that regular exercise offers numerous health benefits. Among its many selling points, exercise decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and some cancers. It can also ease symptoms of depression and reduce inflammation. If that’s not enough to convince you, then perhaps the downside of a sedentary lifestyle will. Without exercise, our cells become weaker. A steady trickle of chemicals prod your body to decay, according to Trish Stackhouse, PT, a physical…